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I spent the evening in two different ER/isolation areas of two private hospitals. It is hell out there. There is nothing that I have read that has come close to depicting what things are like.
It wasn’t even down to the question of who gets treated, but if they can even treat people: isolation units running at max, doctors wearing PPE with their names on it...
Attendants being told where they can take patients, and why they need something that is designed to treat COVID cases, not just a few hours hooked up to an oxygen tank...
And an x-ray with lungs so damaged that doctors passing by stopped to remark on how critical the case was.
(But there was - and is - no space to take that patient in, and there will be none for anyone else)
Hearing someone’s condition being described and realising that they are being turned away and will have to find space elsewhere is beyond terrifying.
Hearing someone’s condition being described and realising that they are being turned away and will have to find space elsewhere is beyond terrifying.
and what does it mean to be turned away in a lockdown? There’s no transport. I got one ambulance today, and then there were none available. If you’re turned away, how do you take someone? Imagine standing outside with someone who could be deteriorating in front of you.
And can you even take someone? Entry into ERs varied by the two hospitals. Imagine trying to call ERs and asking — will you see someone who is unwell? Those are the phone calls I made today. Trying to imagine if I had to do that with someone who is critical is unimaginable.
This is one evening, with access to private healthcare and privilege. The crisis is already here, as is hell. I hope someday people who refused to believe this don’t have to watch someone make choices between who gets treated or who doesn’t, let alone experience it.
(Since this wasn’t clear — the case I was in attendance was for was not diagnosed as a Covid case, and let’s hope that that remains the case for as many people as possible)
